Pirates changed music landscape

Sir, - The 50th anniversary of the closure of the radio pirate ship Radio Scotland in 1967 has revived fond memories for those of us party to that era of excitement.

Occurring shortly before colour television came to Scotland, pirate radio stations ushered in dramatic change to the listening habits of the younger generation.

Prior to that listening revolution, Scots with powerful transistor radios risked the wrath of the authorities by tuning in to Europe’s only commercial radio station, Radio Luxembourg.

That changed when Tommy Shields, a cousin of my late father, launched the first programme as CEO of the Radio Scotland pirate station on New Year’s Eve 1965.

During these fabulous two years of pirate radio operation, I had the responsibility of promoting the Radio Scotland Clan Balls in dance halls throughout Scotland.

Many Taysiders of that era will remember DJs Jack McLaughlin, Paul Young and Stuart Henry attracting more than a thousand dancers at the two Scotland Clan Balls in the Top Ten Club of the Dundee Palais in Tay Street.

The realisation now is that Radio Scotland, a rusting pirate ship with no carpets and no heating, survived only two years.

Yet her story, and the story of a couple of other little offshore tubs like her, ultimately changed the musical waves of a nation. Andrew Lothian. 69 Dundee Road, Broughty Ferry.

“Many Taysiders of that era will remember DJs Jack McLaughlin, Paul Young and Stuart Henry attracting more than a thousand dancers at the two Scotland Clan Balls in the Top Ten Club of the Dundee Palais in Tay Street